Schaller mother, son plead not guilty to growing marijuana

SAC CITY, Iowa -- A Schaller, Iowa, mother and her son have pleaded not guilty to growing marijuana in their home.

Glenda Turnquist, 58, and Keegan Cross, 35, both entered their written pleas this week in Sac County District Court. Each is charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, failure to affix a drug tax stamp and sponsoring a gathering for use of a controlled substance.

According to court documents, Sac County Sheriff's deputies on Feb. 6 served a search warrant at a home in the 500 block of Perth Street and found growing lights, irrigation systems, a humidifier, hydroponic pots and mediums, air ducting, an air filtration system, potting soil and a growing tent. An unspecified number of marijuana plants in varying stages of maturity also were found as well as loose marijuana in containers.

Turnquist and Cross were arrested a year ago after deputies found a similar growing operation and 80 marijuana plants in the same house.

Turnquist later pleaded guilty to manufacturing a controlled substance and received a deferred judgment and one year probation.

Cross pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and received a five-year suspended prison sentence and three years probation.